Stock storage device



J1me 1964 s. L. WOLFSON ETAL 3,139,187

STOCK STORAGE DEVICE Filed May 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J H02. w

FIG. I.

FIG. 4.

IN VEN TOR.

SHERMAN 1.. WOLFSOA/ y J,4(0B GPOSJMAA J1m 1964. s. L. WOLFSON ETAL3,139,187

s'rocx STORAGE DEVICE Filed May 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,139,187 STGCK STORAGE DEVKCE Sherman L. Woifson, Great City,and Jacob Grossman, West Hempstead, N.Y., asslgnors to pace Master SteelSales, Inc, Hempstead, N.Y., a corporation of New York Substituted forabandoned application Ser. No. 78,427, Dec. 211MB. This application May23, 1962, Ser. No.

acacia 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-40 The present invention relates generally tostorage devices and specifically to a top loading storage device adaptedto receive elongated lengths of stock and store the same in a pluralityof vertically oriented storage bays.

The storage of supplies of elongated lengths of stock presents problemswhich heretofore have not been adequately solved. In storage situationswherein a large variety of lengths of stock of differing sizes andconfigurations must be kept on hand, and normal problems of spaceutilization and ease of accessibility are multiplied. In thesesituations, it has been the usual practice either to store theindividual types of stock on suitable mounts all on one level spread outon a relatively large storage area or to place the types of stock withina framework providing a multitude of elongated stock storing bays. Thesestorage frameworks are generally constructed by utilizing cross membersproviding vertical support for the stock and are accessible either fromthe ends of the bays such that the lengths of stock must be manuallylongitudinally moved into and out of the bays, or, inv those situationswhere the horizontal members are cantilevered, from the sides of thebays such that a fork truck or the like may be used to place stock intoand remove stock from each storage bay. It will be readily appreciatedthat important disadvantages are involved in each of these two storageframework systems. In one it is necessary to load and unload from anopen end thus requiring hand labor. In the other there is a greatsacrifice of space since aisles must be maintained along the length ofeach set of bays and in addition, such a system requires theavailability of a fork truck. Neither of these systems are adapted toutilize the overhead cranes which are virtually universally available inthe normal warehouse situtation. Although the overhead crane devices maybe utilized when stock is stored on only one level, such a system isextremely inefficient in its utilization of space.

In the storage of supplies wherein one, or a small number of individuallengths of stock must be available for immediate removal, it isnecessary that the stock be organized in a system such that each of thediffering types of stock are available for easy removal, and furtherthat replacement of a depleted type of stock may be readily andconveniently completed. An advantageous stock storage device wouldprovide these two features in a unit characterized by relative loworiginal cost, low maintenance cost, small space utilization,adaptability for use with stock of a variety of differing configurationsand sizes, expandibility and which may be used in conjunction withexisting power equipment.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storagedevice providing one or more ofthe aforementioned desirable advantages.Specifically, it an object of the present invention to provide a storagedevice for elongated lengths of stock wherein individual lengths ofstock may be easily removed from the storage device and replacement oflengths of stock in said device may be easily and convenientlyaccomplished.

It is further within the contemplation of the present invention toprovide a stock storage device wherein groups of lengths of elongatedstock may be placed within the device by overhead loading.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multiplebay storage mechanism wherein existing overhead cranes may be utilizedto place stock within any selected bay of such device and to movebatches of stock from one of said bays to another.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide adevice for the storage of a plurality of individual groups of lengths ofstock which may be easily loaded from above, where individual lengths ofstock may be removed by hand, where groups of stock may be transferredfrom one storage bay to another, which is adaptable for expansion andfor the storage of items of differing sizes and shapes, which occupies aminimal area and which is relatively low in capital expense.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features andadvantages of the present invention there is provided a top loadingstorage device comprising means defining an elongated storage spacehaving two parallel sides including at least two uprights at spacedintervals along each of the storage space sides. Barrier means areprovided at vertical intervals defining a plurality of individualstorage bays one positioned above the other and are mounted for movementfrom an inoperative position removed from the storage space to anoperative position extending into the storage space. The barrier meansincludes support arms mounted on the uprights for rotation from theoperative position to the inoperative position. When the support armsare rotated into the storage space and are perpendicular to the storagespace sides, they provide the barrier means defining the individualstorage bays and provide supports upon which lengths of stock may restwithin each individual storage bay. When the support arms are moved intotheir inoperative position, direct communication is afforded between onestorage bay and the storage bay immediately below, such that stockcontained in one storage bay will fall downwardly into the next lowerstorage bay. interconnecting movement means are provided between thesupport arms at one level for a simultaneous movement of such supportarms between their operative and inoperative positions thereby to bringone storage bay into direct communication with the storage bay locatedimmediately therebelow and to transfer lengths of stock from said onestorage bay to the second of such storage bays.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by thereference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational end view of a representative portion of astorage device according to the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 0 FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the barrier means inboth their operative and inoperative positions;

PEG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the interconnectingmovement means of the individual support element and illustrating themethod by which the support elements are moved; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of an upright mountand support arm shown partially in section for the sake of clarity.

Referring now specifically to the drawnigs, there is shown a storagedevice generally labeled by the numeral 10 for storing elongated lengthsof stock such as the stock S illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The storagedevice is mounted on a support 12 which includes a plurality of parallelbase members 14, the details of which are best seen in the sectionalview of FIG. 3. Extending upwardly of the base members 14 are aplurality of uprights 16 which are spaced at corresponding intervalsalong the length of each base members 14. In the present illustrativeembodiment, three base members 14 are provided and three uprights 16 aresecured to the portion of the base members 14 which are illustrated. Asmay be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, two adjacent but spaced uprights 16on one base member 14, in conjunction with the complementary pair ofuprights 16 on the other base members 14, define a storage spacegenerally designated by the numeral 18 of the stock storage device 10.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2 and to the lower portion thereof, oneside of the stock storage space 18 is defined by the uprights 16 closestto the edges of the base members 14. The other side of the storage space18 is defined by the second set of uprights 16 on the base member 14.Further groups of storage spaces may be defined by further sets ofuprights 16 on the base member 14 as is illustrated by the storage space20 defined by the second and third sets of uprights 16 on the spacemembers 14. It will be further appreciated that the width of the storagespaces 18, 20 are defined by the arbitrary positioning of the upright 16on the base members 14 and the length of the storage spaces 18. 20 mayvary with the number of individual uprights 16 utilized to formparticular storage space and the distance between the parallel basemembers 14.

Barrier means, generally designated by the numeral 22, are provided atspaced vertical intervals within the storage spaces 18, 20 and define aplurality of individual storage bays B1, B2, B3, etc. (hereinafterreferred to generally as B). For each barrier means 22 on one pair ofopposed uprights 16, corresponding barrier means 22 are provided at thesame height on the corresponding uprights 16 along the length of thestorage spaces 18, 21). As may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the barriermeans 22 are adapted to move from an operative stock-supportingposition, as shown by the barrier means defining the bottom of storagebay B9, to an inoperative position, as shown by the barrier meansdefining the bottom of bin B8 thereby to allow stock S to fall or passfrom an upper bin to the bin therebelow.

The base members 14 are constructed of a pair of channel members 24, 26which are interconnected at their lower edges by the base plate 28 andat their upper edges by the top plate 30. Support tubes 32 arepositioned at selected spaced intervals along the length of each basemember 14 in vertical orientation and held in place by the bracket 34 attheir lower ends and within a suitable opening formed at the top plateat their upper ends. The inner diameters of the support tube 32 aresized to intimately receive the uprights 16 which are placed therein andthus held in a rigid vertical orientation. As may be best seen in FIG.3, longitudinal spacing assemblies 36 are provided to space therespective base members 14 evenly and rigidly along the length of theindividual storage spaces 18, 20. The spacing assemblies 36 include aspacing rod 38 which has welded to each of its ends a securement spacerring 40 which is of an inner and outer diameter equal to that of thesupport tube 32. The individual rings 40 of the spacer assembly 36 areplaced about the corresponding uprights 16 on the parallel base members14 thereby to rigidly ensure the spaced parallel relationship betweenthe base members 14. As seen on the right hand side of FIG. 3 a secondspacer ring 40 is provided between the spacing assembly 36 and the basemember 14 to serve as a filler such that the right hand end of thespacing assembly 36 corresponds with the height of the left hand endwhich is engaged about its respective uprights 16 and is positionedabove its respective base member 14 by the next successive spacerassembly 36a which is similar to the spacer assembly 36 in bothconstruction and effect. A number of spacing assemblies 36 arepositioned along the lengths of the parallel base members 14 therebyproviding an overall rigid support 12. It will be appreciated that thesupport 12 is constructed of a series of basic building members whichmay be easily assembled and disassembled such as to provide a variety ofbase structures which are suited to the individual requirements of anygiven storage situation.

The uprights 16 and the barrier means 22 supported thereon are similarsuch that description of only one upright 16 is necessary for a completeunderstanding of the presently described embodiment of my invention.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a plurality of locating discs 42are spaced at intervals along the length of the upright 16 and aresecured thereto such as by the Weld shown at 44. Supported on each ofthe locating discs 42 are the individual support arms 46 which includesthe upright-engaging ring 48 and the rigid support mem ber 50. Thesupport member 50 is rigidly secured to the upright-engaging ring 48 inperpendicular relationship thereto as by welding as shown 52. It will beappreciated that the ring 48, being of an internal diameter slightlygreater than the external diameter of the upright 16, allows the supportarm assembly 46 to be rotated about the central axis of the upright 16.A stop 54 on the disc 42 and a mating complementary stop 56 on theupright-engaging ring 48 are effective to define an operative positionfor the support arm 46 wherein the support member 50 extendstransversely into the adjacent storage space.

The support members 50 of the support arms 46 are of a lengthsubstantially equal to one-half the width of their respective storagespaces such that when oppositely positioned support arms 46 are directedtransversely into their respective support spaces a barrier member 22 isprovided completely bridging the distance between opposed uprights 16thus defining the lower level of the individual storage bays B. As seenin FIG. 1, there is provided on the left hand upright 16 five individualsupport arms 46 resting on five individual locating discs 42. Theadjacent upright 16 is provided with a complementary number of supportarms 46 at corresponding heights above the base member 14 to definestorage bays B1 through B6. In addition this first group of support arms46, there are a further group of five support arms 46 on the secondupright 16 which correspond with a group of five support arms 46 on thethird upright 16 which define storage bays B7 through B12 in the storagespace 20. Similarly, a still further group of support arms 46 are shownon the third upright 16 and a fourth upright (not shown) is providedwith a corresponding group of support arms 46. It will be appreciatedthat a structure may be constructed according to the instant embodimentof the present invention wherein any number of uprights greater than twomay be placed along the length of parallelly oriented base members 14 toprovide any number of desired storage spaces such as 18, 20 and that anydesired number of support arms 46 may be mounted on adjacent uprights 16to provide the barrier members 22 defining any desired number ofindividual storage bays B.

Interconnecting means are provided on the support arms 46 such thatmovement of one given support arm 46 on one upright 16 will produce asimultaneous movement of the corresponding support arm on thelongitudinally corresponding upright 16 of each individual storage bayB. In the present illustrative embodiment, these interconnecting meansinclude a connecting rod 58 which is pivotally secured to the innermostend of the support member 50 by the nut and bolt assembly 60 engagedwithin an appropriate hole provided on the lower side of the supportmember 50. In the present illustrative embodiment, wherein three pairsof longitudinally oriented uprights 16 are utilized to form each storagespace, each connecting rod 15 is secured to each of the threelongitudinally corresponding support arms 46 along the length of eachindividual storage bay B.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when a supply of stock Sis located in one storage bay, such as storage bay B8 seen in FIG. 1,and when the barrier means 22 comprising a pair of opposed support arms46 are swung outwardly from their operative stock supporting positions,that stock S will be dropped into the next successive lower storage binB9. This result is easily accomplished with the aid of a pair of cablesor chains 62 secured to the ends of the connecting rod 53. For use ininstallations where overhead hoist cranes are available, there isprovided a transfer rack 64 which may be secured to one end of thestorage device In in front of a vertically oriented group of individualbays B such that the overhead crane may be attached to a pair of chains62 to swing the support arms 46 from their operative to theirinoperative position. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the transfer rack 64 isconstructed of a pair of uprights 66 with a plurality of cross members68 in a ladder-like fashion therebetween at heights corresponding to thelocations of the support arms 46. The transfer rack 64 further includesan upper bracing member 7% which is provided with an abutment piece 72adapted to fit against the upper portion of the upright 16 and a lowersupport 74 which may be pinned to an extension of the base plate 28 by apin as shown at 76. The individual cables or chains 62 are loopedunderneath the cross members 68 and are connected to the crane by anysuitable securement means. When the overhead crane is activated, thechain 62 will be pulled upwardly around the cross member 68 such that ahorizontal pull results upon the connecting rod 58 which is effective toswing the support arms 46 from their operative to their inoperativeposition. A mating pair of chains 62 are secured to the overhead cranethrough the transfer rack 64 such that opposed pairs of support arms 46are comprising the barrier means 22 are moved simultaneously to transfera supply of stock S located at one bay B to the next successive lowerbay. FIGS. 1 and 3 show the storage device 10 at the completion of atransfer operation wherein a supply of stock S has been dropped from bayB8 to bay B9.

For a complete understanding of the present invention, a description ofthe storage device 16 in use will now be given. When it is desired toremove a single length of stock S from any one of the bays B of thestorage device 10, the stock man merely longitudinally pulls the desiredlength of stock S outwardly from the bay B. In the ordinary practicewhere large numbers of individual bays B are provided to store arelatively large number of types of stock S, each of the individual baysB contain a different type of stock S. The stock S is loaded into thebays B by a top loading procedure utilizing existing overhead cranes. Itwill be appreciated that when the storage device it is completelyunloaded, the support arms 46 may all be moved by hand into theirinoperative positions thus removing any barrier 22 between adjacent baysB. This will enable stock to be placed from above downwardly into thelowermost bays, such as bays B6 and B12 seen in FIG. 1. However, in thenormal situation, where some bays have a supply of stock, the stock maybe transferred from one bay to the bay vertically therebelow by thesimple expedient of moving the barrier means 22 to their inoperativeposition by taking advantage of the rotational mounts for the supportarms 46. For example, in situations where it is desired to move a supplyof stock 3 located in bay B8 to bay E9,

the operator places the transfer rack 64 against one end.

of the storage device It with the abutment piece '72 against the upperend of the upright 16 and the lower brace 74 pinned to the base plate 28by means of the pin 76. The chains 62a and 6211 are then placed underthe appropriate cross member 68 and secured to the hook of the overheadcrane (no-t shown). As the crane 6 is moved upwardly, the chains 62a,62b will be moved horizontally pulling against the connecting rods 58thereby swinging the support arms 46 from their operativestocksupporting position to their inoperative position, as seen in FIGS.1, 2 and 3. With this movement of the barrier 22, stock S contained inbay B8 is dropped downwardly into the next lower bay B9. If it is thenfurther desired to move stock S from B9 to bay B19, a similar procedureis followed. When the support arms 46 are returned to their operativestock-supporting position, stock may be dropped from the next higher bayor may be lowered into any given bay B by the means of the overheadcrane.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is provided inaccordance with the present invention a stock storage device of greatversatility and adaptability for the storage of a large number oflengths of stock of differing sizes and configurations. Stock may bemoved from one storage bay of the device to another without thenecessity of bodily lifting the stock out of the first bay and placingit into the second bay. Further, the device according to the presentinvention provides a storage means whereby a large number of differenttypes of stock may be stored in a relatively small area and may beplaced into the storage device by the use of a simple overhead crane.There is no necessity for the use of fork trucks or for the provision oflongitudinal access aisles along the sides of the bays to provideloading and unloading room for a storage device according to the presentinvention.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What we claim is:

1. A top-loading storage device for storing elongated lengths of stockcomprising means defining an elongated storage space having two sides,barrier means, means operatively connected to and mounting said barriermeans for movement from an inoperative position removed from saidstorage space to an operative position extending from said sides intosaid storage space at vertically spaced intervals and dividing saidspace into a plurality of stockstorage bays, one above the other,adjacent storage bays being in direct communication with each other whensaid barrier means is in said inoperative position allowing lengths ofstock contained in one of said bays to fall downwardly into the nextlower one of said bays, and means interconnecting the individual barriermeans dividing two successive storage bays for simultaneous movement ofsaid barrier means between said operative and inoperative positions tobring said storage bays into direct communication and to transfer saidlengths of stock from an upper one of said bays to the next lower one ofsaid bays.

2. A top-loading storage device for storing elongated lengths of stockcomprising means defining two sides of an elongated storage space havingtwo parallel sides, barrier means, means operatively connected to andmounting said barrier means for movement between an inoperative positionremoved from said storage space to an operative position extending fromsaid sides into said storage space at vertically spaced intervals anddividing said space into a plurality of stock storage bays, one aboveanother, said barrier means including support arms mounted on saidmounting means for rotation from an operative position extending intosaid storage space substantially perpendicular to said sides to aninoperative position wherein said arms are removed from said storagespace, adjacent storage bays being in direct communication with eachother when said support arms are moved into said inoperative positionallowing lengths of stock contained in an upper one of said bays to passdownwardly into the next lower one of said bays, and meansinterconnecting the individual support arms dividing two successivestorage bays for simultaneous movement of said support arms between saidoperative and inoperative positions to bring said storage bays intodirect communication and to transfer said lengths of stock from an upperone of said bays to the next lower one of said bays.

3. A top-loading storage device for storing elongated lengths of stockcomprising means defining a plurality of elongated storage spaces havingtwo parallel sides, at least two uprights at spaced points along each ofsaid storage space sides, barrier means, means mounting said barriermeans on said upright for movement between an inoperative positionremoved from said storage space to an operative position extending fromsaid sides into said storage space at vertically spaced intervals and dividing said space into a plurality of stock storage bays, one above theother, said barrier means including support arms extendible into saidstorage space substantially perpendicular to said sides in saidoperative position of said barrier means and removable from said storagespace when said barrier means is in said inoperative position, adjacentstorage bays being in direct communication with each other when saidbarrier is in said inoperative position allowing lengths of stockcontained in one of said bays to pass downwardly into the next lower oneof said bays, and means interconnecting the individual barrier meansdividing two successive storage bays for simultaneous movement betweensaid operative and inoperative positions to bring said storage bays intodirect communication and to transfer said lengths of stock from an upperof said bays to the next lower one of said bays.

4. A top-loading storage device for storing elongated lengths of stockcomprising means defining an elongated storage space having two parallelsides, said means including at least two uprights at spaced points alongeach of said storage space sides, barrier means, means operativelyinterconnecting said uprights and said barrier means mounting the latterfor movement from an inoperative position removed from said storagespace to an operative position extending from said sides into saidstorage space at vertically spaced intervals and dividing said spaceinto a plurality of stock storage bays, one above the other, saidbarrier means including support arms mounted on said upright forrotation from an operative position extending into said storage spacesubstantially perpendicular to said sides to an inoperative positionwherein said arms are removed from said storage space, adjacent storagebays being in direct communication with each other when said supportarms are moved into said inoperative positions allowing lengths of stockcontained in one of said bays to fall downwardly into the next lower oneof said bays, and means interconnecting the individual support armsdividing two successive storage bays for simultaneous movement of saidsupport arms between said operative and inoperative positions to bringsaid storage bays into direct communication and to transfer said lengthsof stock from an upper one of said bays to the next lower one of saidbays.

5. A storage device for storing elongated lengths of stock in aplurality of vertically aligned individual bays comprising a supportincluding at least one base member, at least two pairs of spaced apartuprights secured to said base, the individual uprights of said pairsbeing in a right rectangular relationship defining a stock-storage spaceWithin the individual uprights of said pairs of uprights, a plurality ofpairs of support arms respectively mounted on said pairs of uprights atcorresponding heights from said base for rotation in planesperpendicular to said uprights between an operative stock-supportingposition wherein the individual support arms of said pairs of supportarms extend inwardly into said stockstorage space and an inoperativeposition wherein said arms are rotated out of said stock-storage space,corresponding pairs of said support arms on said pairs of uprightsdefining individual stock-storage bays adapted to receive and storelengths of stock, and means interconnecting the individual arms ofcorresponding pairs of said support arms to maintain said correspondingarms in parallel relation as they are rotated, rotation of thecorresponding pairs of support arms at one level of said uprights fromtheir operative to their inoperative position, being effective to dropthe stock contained within the bay above said arms to the nextsuccessive lower bay.

6. A top-loading storage device for storing elongated lengths of stockcomprising means defining an elongated storage space, barrier means,means operatively connected to and mounting said barrier means formovement between an inoperative position removed from said storage spaceto an operative position extending into said storage space at verticallyspaced intervals and dividing said space into a plurality of stockstorage bays, one above another, said barrier means including supportarms mounted on said mounting means for movement from an operativeposition extending into said storage space to an inoperative positionwherein said arms are removed from said storage space, verticallyadjacent storage bays being in direct communication with each other whensaid support arms are moved into said inoperative position allowinglengths of stock contained in an upper one of said bays to passdownwardly into the next lower one of said bays, and meansinterconnecting the individual support arms dividing two successivestorage bays for simultaneous movement of said support arms between saidoperative and inoperative positions to bring said storage bays intodirect communication and to transfer said lengths of stock from an upperone of said bays to the next lower one of said bays.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A TOP-LOADING STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING ELONGATED LENGTHS OF STOCKCOMPRISING MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED STORAGE SPACE HAVING TWO SIDES,BARRIER MEANS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND MOUNTING SAID BARRIERMEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION REMOVED FROM SAIDSTORAGE SPACE TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION EXTENDING FROM SAID SIDES INTOSAID STORAGE SPACE AT VERTICALLY SPACED INTERVALS AND DIVIDING SAIDSPACE INTO A PLURALITY OF STOCKSTORAGE BAYS, ONE ABOVE THE OTHER,ADJACENT STORAGE BAYS BEING IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER WHENSAID BARRIER MEANS IS IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION ALLOWING LENGTHS OFSTOCK CONTAINED IN ONE OF SAID BAYS TO FALL DOWNWARDLY INTO THE NEXTLOWER ONE OF SAID BAYS, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE INDIVIDUAL BARRIERMEANS DIVIDING TWO SUCCESSIVE STORAGE BAYS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OFSAID BARRIER MEANS BETWEEN SAID OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS TOBRING SAID STORAGE BAYS INTO DIRECT COMMUNICATION AND TO TRANSFER SAIDLENGTHS OF STOCK FROM AN UPPER ONE OF SAID BAYS TO THE NEXT LOWER ONE OFSAID BAYS.